Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Saturday launched ‘Shaktishree’, a comprehensive initiative aimed at ensuring the safety of girl students across campuses in Odisha.
This came amid a nationwide outrage over the death of a 20-year-old college student of FM College in Balasore, who allegedly self-immolated due to alleged sexual harassment by her HoD and institutional neglect.
The CM said that the programme will be implemented in 16 universities and 730 government and grant-in-aid colleges of the state. “Through this, we will ensure that our daughters feel protected, supported, and empowered on campus,” he said.
Majhi said that empowerment cell, mobile app, self-defense training, mental health assistance & code of conduct for teachers are among its features. “Self-defence training will be provided to girl student
s in universities. There will also be mental health training and support to promote emotional well-being,” he said.
He further stated that a dedicated Shaktishree mobile app will remain active 24/7 for campus safety alerts and support. “An internal committee will be formed to handle grievances and ensure accountability. A code of conduct for teachers and other staff will also be developed to uphold respectful and safe environments. There will be annual safety audits and every institution is required to submit a report by December each year. The government will ensure a safe and inclusive ecosystem for young women,” he asserted.
The CM reiterated the state’s commitment to women’s safety, emphasising that the Shaktishree initiative is not a mere symbolic gesture, but a robust, accountable framework, aimed at preventing incidents and fostering trust in educational institutions. “We are not just responding to incidents, we are building a safer future. Our colleges must become safe havens of learning, not places of fear,” he added.